Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-20
A QUEER STORY.
TIKI HaxMaasxiTH MYSTERY,
(London Truth

succession of misfortunes which ulh-
mately landed him in the Bankruptcy
Court. When that crisis was past he
went 10 live in small house at Hammer
smith with his wife, his younger son
Ephriam. and one servant Not long
after his wife died, and tpis last blow re-
duccd the old pan TO q complete wreck.
He became childish, and lost his memory
so completely that he had no recollec.
ton of ordinary events from day to day,
which was. perhaps, merciiul dispense
ton Of Providence after oil.
Ephraim Stuckey was now the master
of the house. though the house itself
belonged to the father, having been pur-
chased with some money Of Mrs.
Stuckey's. Ephraim WAS a stockbroker
I in a small way of business. which might
have been larger if Ephrsim himself
had been fonder of work, and had com
bined a little moro greedness for the
commissions of clients with a little less
faith in grand speculative comps on his
own account. He was addicted to
grumbling at the hardships of his LOT,
and more particularly at the burden of
keeping "the old man, as he called his
father. This, however, was rs unreason-
able as it was undutiful, for not
only was Ephraim living rent-freo
in his fathers house, but old Mr.
Stuckevs maintenance was fully pro-
vided for by the elder SOD, Alfred
Alfred, in his fathers palmy days, had
been put into the church. He was now
q curatc in Midland county parish on
a princely stipend Of goo year, ont of
which he contributed $50 year to his
fathers support-quite enough to leave
n margin OF profit for Ephraim. II any
one, therefore, had reason to grumble at
the prolongation of the fathers life 1t
was Alfred. 1t must he mentioned
however, that there was one small ex
pcc.ation for both the sons upon their
fathers death. Martin Stuckey's life had
beeninsuredin better dHysfor e. 900. and
the premiums upons the policy had been
kept mp by the Joint contributions of the
two Young men. But Mr.. Stuckey
showed no immediate likelihood OF en-
ablinghis sons to realize this investment
Since the breakdown of his mind his
bodily health had much improved, as
not uufroquently happens in such cases,
and his mental incapacity was not OF
kind 10 cause anxiety. There had been
nj one timo question between the
brothers about providing him with
an attendant, hut Ephraim was
opposed to the unnecessary expense,
and pointed out that the OLD gentleman
never left the house unless 10y invitation,
and that while within doors he was per-
fectlv under the control Of those about
him. including even the one maid-ser-
want IF the estabhshmcnt-a trust
worthy Young woman who had been
with the family for some years. The
truth was that the old gentleman was so
submissive that, if SO ordered, he would
remain in one room for hours together,
and under these circumstances 1t really
seemed that Ephoim and the maid were
quite capable Of looking after HIM. This
idea. however. turned Out to be eTro-
noous.
The Rev. Alfred Stuckey did not often
visit London, but when he did SO he al
WAYS endoavored to spend n day with
his father. On such occasions he would
generally take the old gentleman ont
with him for the day. professingtO think
that he was too much confined to the
house. One day. about the middle Of
October. EpLraim Stuckev informed the
maids, rvaut that his brother was coming
to town. and added that, If Alfred should
take his father out as he sometimes did,
she had better take q days holiday.
IN due course the Rev. Alfred arrived
and. alter spending a night st the house,
he said that he would take his father by
steamboat to Richmond for the day.
The maid was accordingly Informed that
she could have her promised holiday.
Then. however. difficulty arose. The
girl wished 10 90 some distance. aud
could not be back before 8 o'clock IN the
evening. Alfred. on the other hand, had
no intention OF keeping his father ont
till that hour. and besides this he had to
return that night to his parish, for which
purpose he must leave St Pancras sta
ton at about 7 o'clock. Who, then, was
10 take charge Of old Mr.. Stuckey in the
interval
al dare say I can get home" said
Ephraim. "What time Will you re-
turn
THAT depends on father. Not later
than o'clock in any case. As / have to
be at ST. Pancras by shall leave here
before 500"
q think can manage to be back by
that time" said Ephraim, "and there is
no harm in leaving the Governor for
half an hour by himself If | am not
here when you return put him into that
armchair, give him his pipe, and tell
him in Your most impressive voice that
he is not 10 stir on any account till |
come In"
Are you sure that he will be all
1ight?"
Perfectly. He would not move if
the house were on fire"
With this understanding the parties
separated. .
1t was between $50 and 9 p. NJ on
the same day when Mr. Ephraim Stuckey
presented himself at Hammersmith po-
lice station aud asked for assistance. tie
made at the same time statement from
which. in addition to the above facts, 1t
appeared that in consequence Of bust
mess unexpectedly OBTAINING him In town
he had not reached home until close
mon 7o'clocls. He then found no trace
OF his father or of his brother, and. after
waiting for the return of the servant and
making inquiries doouI 'uc HcIbuuOi-
hood, he had come to the conclusion that
on being left alone his father had. for
the first time on record, taken it into his
head to go out by himself, and had either
lost himself or met with some worse mis-
chance.
Subsequent events confirmed the lat
ter theory. The Rev. Alfred Stuckey,
on being communicated with by tele-
gram next day, replied that he had
left his father at home in his chair
at 5:lJ on the previous evening. On the
same day Mr.. Stuckey's hat was found
in the osier beds at Chiswick. 4 day or
two later walkiDgstick, which had Ger
tainly belonged to him, was picked up in
the river at Chelsea. The police CON
tinued the hue-and-cry with undated
vigor, but after these discoveries only
IN one theory Of the old gcnueman's
disappearance seemed tonable There